Airborne 12.09.16

During what may be the last public meeting Wednesday, the Review
of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, commissioned by
President Obama to study current U.S. human space flight plans,
said there was a strong consensus for funding a robust commercial
human space flight program to provide human space transportation to
low Earth orbit (LEO).

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The remarks, not surprisingly, drew an enthusiastic response
from the commercial space flight community. “We are pleased
that the panel has endorsed commercial human space flight as an
option for transporting astronauts to the International Space
Station (ISS),” said Bob Hopkins, a spokesman for the Next
Step in Space coalition. “We are confident that U.S. based
commercial space companies will enhance the scientific and research
capabilities of the ISS and ensure that funding now slated to go to
Russia can contribute to high tech jobs here at home.”

Included in virtually every option presented was providing $2.5
billion over four years starting in FY2011 to support development
of commercial human space transport capabilities. The panel also
discussed options that included commercially-provided heavy lift
capabilities for space exploration beyond LEO.

“The panel’s thoughtful approach is appreciated and
we look forward to its final recommendations later this
month,” Hopkins said.

This endorsement of commercial human space flight comes a little
over a week after NASA’s announcement of a $50 million
commercial crew development program to develop and demonstrate
human spaceflight capabilities while fostering entrepreneurial
activity leading to job growth in engineering, analysis, design,
and research.

The committee’s findings will be formally presented to the
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) at the
end of August.